Dianthus plant named ‘Very Cherry’

ABSTRACT

The new and distinct plant cultivar of perennial Carnation or Pinks,  Dianthus  plant named ‘Very Cherry’ with long-blooming, fragrant, single flowers, having petals that begin black-red with irregular bright red streaks that mature to bright red with burgundy center having a streaked outer margin.  Dianthus  ‘Very Cherry’ is tolerant of high temperatures and resists center die-out.

Botanical denomination: Dianthus hybrid.

Cultivar designation: ‘Very Cherry’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the new and distinct cultivar ofDianthus or Pinks from the genus Dianthus and given the cultivar name‘Very Cherry’ formerly known by the breeder code 07-13-19. The new plantwas the result of an intentional cross in May of 2007 by Kevin A. Hurdbetween Dianthus ‘Cranberry Ice’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,342 as thefemale or seed parent and ‘Feuerhexe’ (not patented) (also commonlyknown as ‘Fire Witch’) as the male or pollen parent. The new hybrid wasfirst isolated from trials at a nursery in Zeeland, Mich. during thesummer of 2008. Dianthus ‘Fire and Ice’ has been asexually propagated atthe same nursery in Zeeland, Mich. using traditional shoot tip cuttingprocedures and found to reproduce plants that are identical and exhibitall the characteristics of the original plant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has not been evaluated under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations inenvironment including: growing temperature, available sunlight,nutrients, water, etc. without a change in the genotype of the plant.The new plant is distinct from its parents and all other Dianthus knownto the applicant in the following combined traits:

-   -   1. Flat, single, overlapping petals opening to black-red with        irregular bright red streaks    -   2. Flower petals mature to bright red with burgundy center and        irregular margin.    -   3. High heat tolerance while not requiring vernalization to        produce flowers    -   4. Floriferous habit, vigorous growth and excellent habit    -   5. Compact, fine-textured, blue-green foliage

Cultivar Comparison Table Color Flower Flower Flower Petal Cultivarcolor pattern size margin ‘Cranberry Ice’ pink dark wine 3.3 cm darkU.S. Plant Pat. No. edge and rim wine 18,342 margin ‘Devon Siskin’ redmagenta edge 4.0 cm magenta U.S. Plant Pat. No. purple with burgundymargin 14,377 base and light with (Raspberry Swirl) pink eye white edge‘Devon Xera’ crimson crimson eye 3.0 cm self U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,895(Fire Star) ‘Feuerhexe’ (not fuchsia solid 4.0 cm self patented) pink‘Fire and Ice’ raspberry pink flecking 3.5 cm white and white petalmargins Red Dwarf’ red crimson eye 3.5 cm self U.S. Plant Pat. No.14,437 (Eastern Star) ‘Ruby Sparkles’ magenta round deep 4.5 cm deeprose U.S. application red ruby eye pink No. 13/134,019 (now abandoned)‘Spangled Star’ red pale pink 4.0 cm pale pink U.S. Plant Pat. No.blotch and eye 13,029 ‘Strawberry bright red light pink 4.0 cm lightpink Sorbet’ to white U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,338 ‘Very Cherry’ black-redburgundy eye 3.5 cm bright red and streaks ‘Sangria Splash’ fuchsiacrimson ring 3.0 cm crimson U.S. Plant Pat. No. pink with pink with pink21,781 splashing and splashing center Petal Plant height Cultivar Petaledge # in flower ‘Cranberry Ice’ moderately 5 20 to 25 cm U.S. PlantPat. No. 18,342 serrated ‘Devon Siskin’ very fine 5 10 cm U.S. PlantPat. No. 14,377 serration (Raspberry Swirl) ‘Devon Xera’ coarsely 5 15to 20 cm U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,895 serrated (Fire Star) ‘Feuerhexe’(not deeply 5 10 to 12 cm patented) serrated ‘Fire and Ice’ Very fine 520 to 25 cm serrated Red Dwarf’ rounded 5 20 to 25 cm U.S. Plant Pat.No. 14,437 serration (Eastern Star) ‘Ruby Sparkles’ coarsely 5 15 to 20cm U.S. application serrated No. 13/134,019 (now abandoned) ‘SpangledStar’ minutely 5 17 to 22 cm U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,029 serrated‘Strawberry Sorbet’ moderately 5 15 to 20 cm PP18338 serrated ‘VeryCherry’ finely serrated 5 25 to 30 cm ‘Sangria Splash’ variably 5 30 cmU.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,781 serrated

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The photographs of the new invention demonstrate the overall appearanceof the plant including the unique traits. The colors are as accurate asreasonably possible with color reproductions. Some slight variation ofcolor may occur as a result of lighting quality, intensity, wavelength,direction or reflection.

FIG. 1 shows the new plant at two-years of age in a field environmentwhile in flower.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the flower and bud.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following detailed description of the new plant is based onobservations of several two-year old plants in open-field, full-sunconditions in Zeeland, Mich. with supplemental watering, light additionsof fertilizer and free of other plant growth regulators. All color usageis in reference to the 2001 edition of The Royal Horticultural ColourChart except where common dictionary terms are used.

-   Botanical classification: Dianthus hybrid.-   Parentage: ‘Cranberry Ice’ as the female or seed parent and    ‘Feuerhexe’ as the male or pollen parent.-   Plant description:    -   -   Habit.—Cespitose, herbaceous, evergreen perennial; stems            proximally branched, erect; height of foliage about 15 cm            and 42 cm across; height in flower is about 30 cm; Root            system; fine, fibrous.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf type.—Simple, linear, opposite, decussate, sessile,            glabrous, glaucous on adaxial and abaxial; acute apex; base            decurrent, adpressed along stem and somewhat perfoliate; no            fragrance detected.        -   Leaf dimensions.—About 8.0 cm long and 2.5 mm wide.        -   Leaf color.—More green than RHS 122B and more blue than RHS            N138B on adaxial and abaxial sides.        -   Venation.—Minutely reticulate, coloration same as that of            leaf top and bottom.        -   Stems.—Mostly erect, terete, glabrous, heavily glaucous,            proximally branching at 2 to 3 nodes.        -   Stem size.—To about 30.0 cm long and 3.0 mm wide at base.        -   Stem color.—Nearest RHS 122B.        -   Branching.—Numerous from lower leaf axils; about 180 per            plant.        -   Nodes.—3 mm across, nearest RHS 138C.        -   Internodes.—Up to 7.5 cm apart depending on growing            temperatures.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—Terminal, cymose, erect, symmetrical.        -   Dimension.—About 3.5 cm across and extending about 7.0 mm            above calyx.        -   Flowers per stem.—3 to 5.        -   Pedicel.—Glaucous, glabrous, terete.        -   Pedicel size.—Variable, 1.5 cm to 3.0 cm long and 2 mm            diameter.        -   Pedicel color.—Nearest RHS 122B.-   Flowers:    -   -   Type.—Salverform, single, symmetrical.        -   Flower bud shape.—Rhomboid to terete.        -   Flower bud size one day prior to opening.—About 2.4 cm long            and 0.5 cm wide.        -   Flower bud color.—Glaucous, between RHS N138C and RHS 122C;            emerging petals nearest RHS 186A.        -   Flower period.—Beginning late May and flowering until frost            in the fall with a short 2 week rest after the initial four            weeks.        -   Flower fragrance.—Light, sweet spicy, clove-like.        -   Flower lasting quality.—About five days on or off the plant.        -   Petals.—Five; consisting of a rounded blade or limb and a            claw enclosed except for 7.0 mm extending above the calyx,            limb obovate, apex rounded and dentate with dentations 1.5            mm deep, bearded with minute hairs mostly on the center of            the adaxial surface,; petal bent outwardly about 7.0 mm            above calyx to nearly a ninety degree angle forming the            limb.        -   Petal color.—Petal limb base adaxial side between RHS 46A            and RHS 46B with a large center portion with streaked outer            margin about 1.6 cm diameter of nearest RHS 53A and a            central eye inside of about 5.0 mm of nearest RHS 46A;            abaxial side limb nearest RHS 58A; adaxial claw with distal            3.0 mm portion nearest RHS 54D; abaxial claw nearest RHS            145B on a 2.0 mm wide band next to limb and then of near            white lighter than RHS 150D on both adaxial and abaxial            sides next to limb.        -   Dimension.—3.5 cm long including claw and limb; petal limb            to 1.8 cm across and 1.4 cm long; claws about 1.7 cm long            and 1.0 mm wide at base and 4.0 mm wide about 3 mm from            limb.        -   Calyx.—Glabrous, glaucous, five-toothed corolla tube fused            in proximal 1.6 cm; about 2.0 cm long and 6.0 mm in            diameter; between RHS N138B and RHS N122B with anthocyanin            tinting of nearest RHS 183B on outer abaxial surface and RHS            138B.        -   Peduncle.—Glabrous, glaucous, terete, about 28.0 cm long and            3.0 mm diameter at base; nearest RHS 122B.        -   Bracts.—Two, opposite, glaucous, entire, broadly obtuse with            rounded apex, about 5.5 mm long and 4.0 mm wide; between RHS            139A and RHS 139B in the center of both adaxial and abaxial            surfaces, lighter than RHS 139D at base and margins.        -   Bracteoles.—Two, opposite and at 90 degrees offset from            bracts, oblanceolate, sharply acute apex, bases joined at            stem; about 7.0 mm long and 3.0 mm wide; glaucous, entire;            between RHS 139A and RHS 139B in the center of both adaxial            and abaxial surfaces, lighter than RHS 139D at base and            margins.        -   Androecium.—Usually 10 stamens. Filaments: variable in            length from 0.7 cm to 2.8 cm long, less than 1 mm diameter;            nearest RHS 46A. Anther: elliptic-oblong, dorsifixed; about            3.0 mm long and1.0 mm wide, nearest RHS186D. Pollen; has not            yet been observed.        -   Gynoecium.—Style: split in two above ovary. Pistil: about            2.5 cm long and about 1.0 mm diameter; nearest RHS 46A.            Stigma: about 1.0 cm long and 1.0 mm wide; curled around            nearly 180 degrees at maturity; nearest RHS 53B. Ovary:            superior to androecium and inferior to gynoecium,            spindle-shaped; about 8.0 mm long and 3.0 mm wide; RHS 145A            at distal end and between RHS 145 D and RHS 145 C at            proximal end.-   Fruit and seed: Production has not yet been observed; calyx between    RHS 164A and RHS 164B when dried.-   Disease resistance: The new plant is resistance to center die out    from fungus or high temperatures. The plant grows best with adequate    moisture and well-drained soil, but is able to tolerate high    temperatures and some drought once established. Hardiness at least    from USDA zone 4 through zone 9.

1. A new and distinct plant cultivar of perennial Carnation or Pinks,Dianthus plant named ‘Very Cherry’ as herein described and illustrated,and suitable as a garden ornamental, potted plant and for cut flowerarrangements.